Philanthropy: Old Meets New

By Kelley Corvin VT'12, Chief Advancement Officer

When I think about the Corps of Cadets, I immediately think about tradition. As a Blacksburg native and a civilian alumna, I have always had a fondness and appreciation for the Corps and the tradition and values the cadets represent and bring to Virginia Tech. Working with the Corps this past year opened my eyes and educated me on many traditions: Ring Figure, Pie Day, signing Lane Hall after the change of command Pass in Review, Halloween formation, and many more.  

When I meet with alumni, donors, and friends of the Corps, they often ask me if I knew a lot about the Corps before working here and my answer is always the same: I thought I did. On a 30,000-foot scale, I probably knew more than your average Virginia Tech graduate, but I have loved spending the last year getting to know the details and traditions that I would have otherwise been unaware of.  

Traditions are important; they connect us from generation to generation and allow us to bridge gaps in an ever-changing world.  They remind us of our roots, what makes us unique, and special.

This spring the Corps of Cadets was able to bring back a tradition, Pie Day, and connect it to a new Virginia Tech tradition, Giving Day. As companies competed to secure the most donors for an opportunity to pie a member of the commandant's staff, we watched our next generation of alumni take a deeper dive into giving back and philanthropic support. Bringing together these two traditions, one old and one new, made for an exceptional day. The Corps of Cadets had close to 25% of its donors on Giving Day come from students, which was the highest among all colleges and programs. While the impact of this one day was big, starting to create a culture of philanthropy and being able to talk about why donating matters (and not just because you want to pie someone in the face) is an important message that will live on for years to come.  

As I look towards the next fiscal year, I look forward to the opportunity to educate and work with current cadets to understand what it means to give back and to know that their giving will impact future generations of cadets and allow them educational opportunities to succeed and grow as leaders.  

One thing is certain: the Corps is famous at Virginia Tech for having dedicated graduates who serve and give back to their communities, their nation, and their alma mater.  

If you would like to discuss the impact you would like to have on the Corps of Cadets and our future leaders, please contact me, Kelley Corvin at (540-231-2806), kcorvin@vt.edu, and we can find the opportunity that is right for you.  

Special Naming Opportunities

A few naming opportunities remain available in the new Corps Leadership and Military Science Building, as well as other locations on Upper Quad. Secure your legacy naming for years to come.    

Endowments  

Endowments provide a dependable, perpetual source of funding for things such as cadet scholarships, travel funding, and programmatic support. Endowments create a funding source to support the Corps in perpetuity.  

WAYS TO GIVE

Annual Gifts

Annual gifts of any amount can make an immediate impact. They can be in the form of a one-time gift or set up on a convenient, recurring basis.  

Non-Cash

There are many other ways to support the Corps with non-cash gifts. If you are interested in learning more about one of these ways to give, please contact us to learn more.

Employer Matching Gifts

Many Corps donors are employed by companies that encourage donations to higher education. Before making your gift, please check give.vt.edu/match to see if your company provides a matching contribution.

In Memory / In Honor

Scholarships, endowed positions, Corps facilities, or programs can be named in memory of a special individual. Gifts may also be made to honor a loved one or someone who inspires you. Contact our team to learn more!